Applying for a passport

   It normally takes 6 weeks to get a passport. Passports can be obtained in about 2 weeks by paying an additional $35 fee for expedited service, using overnight delivery and enclosing a self-addressed, prepaid, two-way, overnight delivery envelope. Same day or overnight service is available by appointment at Passport Agencies in major US cities, and at US Consulates all over the world. A list of Passport Agencies as well as passport applications and other badly written information on how to obtain passports can be found at U.S. Department of State.

   As a last resort you might try using a certified birth certificate and a picture ID. We spoke to officials at US Consulate here in San Jose who told us that they were aware of US citizens who were allowed to board planes in US and enter Costa Rica with these documents as recently as yesterday.